Sometimes, a job might just not be for you. And since we spend a huge amount of our time at work, there is often no point in staying in a career that is making us miserable. Whether you have decided that while your current workplace is great, it’s not the right career path for you and want to retrain somewhere else, your current workplace is simply not offering you the opportunities that you need, it’s too hard to get to work from where you live, work is taking over your life, or you are in a truly toxic workplace that is impacting your physical and mental health, there are numerous valid reasons to leave your job and look for different opportunities. 

Think About Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job:

If you want to leave your job because you’re increasingly disliking it, it is always worth spending some time considering the reasons why. Sometimes, you might find that you actually enjoy the workplace you are in and the people that you work with but would prefer a different position. Maybe you are not being paid enough or feel that other issues in the workplace will need to be addressed if you were to feel differently about continuing to work there. The main reason to spend some time thinking about your reasons is that you might be able to do something about them. If you are mainly considering quitting due to factors that your employer could change, then it’s always worth having a conversation about how you feel. You might be surprised to learn that your employer is happy to make the adjustments that you need to feel comfortable continuing to work here as you are a valued employee. And if they are not, then you can simply continue looking for a new position.

Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Job – Common Reasons:

There are plenty of common reasons why people decide to leave their jobs. Of course, it might just be because you’ve found a better-paying position elsewhere that sparks your interest more than the job that you are doing now. Maybe your current job is a means to an end and now that a better position has come up, you are ready to take it. Some people leave their jobs because they want to have a total change of career. For example, if you work in finance but feel called to nursing, you’re not going to find that kind of position in this industry. 

There are also much more serious reasons why people leave their jobs – and they definitely should. Toxic workplaces often have a very high turnover of staff because most people will not tolerate being treated that way for any amount of money, and rightly so. If your workplace is affecting your mental health or your physical health, it’s probably time to start looking for new work. Discrimination, harassment, and bullying in the workplace are also common reasons why employees decide that enough is enough. 

Why Leaving Current Job: The Benefits of Exiting:

We’re living in a time where people have more opportunities to them than ever before. While sticking around in a job that they didn’t like might have been essential for your parents’ or grandparents’ generation, the same is not true for professionals today. If you don’t like your job for any reason, then there are numerous benefits of exiting the company and finding work somewhere else. These include:

  • Personal Satisfaction:

You’re going to struggle to find personal satisfaction in a job that you don’t enjoy doing. If you have decided that another career is the better choice for you then there’s little more personally satisfying than putting yourself through the necessary training and skill development to successfully land a career in the role of your dreams instead. 

  • Career Advancement:

Some people leave their careers because they feel that they are simply not getting anywhere, and this is extremely valid. If you are ambitious and need to work your way up the career ladder, there is little point in sticking around at a company that you feel is holding you back. 

  • Personal Stress:

Some jobs might just ask too much of you. If you have little time for a personal life and are struggling to cope with this, then it just might not be the right career fit for you. And there’s no shame in admitting this and finding a new job that allows you a better work-life balance. 

  • Respect in the Workplace:

Everybody deserves to be respected while at work, and if you don’t feel like you are respected, valued, or even listened to or noticed most of the time, then you have every right to leave and find work at a company that sees your worth.

  • Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying:

These circumstances might not always mean that you have to leave your job especially if you have management on your side and working to make the environment better for you. However, if you are in a toxic workplace where you often feel bullied, put down, harassed, or discriminated against, the best thing to do for your health and happiness is to get out of there. 

Why Do I Want to Leave My Current Job – When You Should Definitely Leave:

There are some situations where it’s probably best to definitely leave the job. If your workplace is toxic, and it’s impacting your mental health in a big way, ask yourself is it really worth sticking around? If you’re being sexually harassed or discriminated against at work based on your colour, race, religion, gender, sexuality, or other factors, it’s always worth making plans to leave if you feel that you are not getting any support or worse, the management is complicit in this treatment. Bear in mind that you may have grounds to take your employer to court in these circumstances. 

How to Answer Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job:

If you have decided to leave your current job, chances are that you’re going to be asked your reasons why by your employer and colleagues. How you answer this is up to you, but if you want to make a lasting good impression on the company, then it’s worth putting some thought into how you answer. For the most part, your genuine answers will be good enough. For example, if you have found a position that is more suitable for you, you want to experience something different, have decided to change your career, or want a better work-life balance – these are all normal, common, and valid answers that your employer will likely understand. On the other hand, if you are leaving due to discrimination, harassment, or a toxic workplace, being clear about this could make things worse as you work your notice period. It might be best to just keep it short and say that you’ve found a more suitable position elsewhere. 

Good Answers for Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job:

No matter what problems you have had with your workplace, it’s important to bear in mind that your previous employer may be asked to provide a reference for you for your next position. While it is not permitted for employers to give bad references for previous employees, there can often be a lot of information hidden in what they do not say. That’s why it’s important to keep your answers to this question professional and concise, especially if you are leaving due to a toxic work environment. While you might want to put your employer on blast and make sure that they are aware of how you have suffered while working here, that might be something that is best saved for an employee review after you have successfully left and are already working in your next position. 

Why You Are Leaving Your Current Position – What to Include in Your Notice:

Most workplaces will require you to write a letter of notice to inform your employer that you are going to be leaving the position. The notice period that you will be required to work will vary depending on several factors, including how long you have been at the company. In some circumstances, however, you may be able to hand in your notice with immediate effect. It may be worth doing this if you feel unsafe at work or it is impacting your health badly. However, you should always provide a letter of notice as a formal notification that your employment is ending with the company. While you are not required to provide information on why you are leaving the position in your letter of notice, you may wish to do so for your own reasons. 

Leaving a job that you hate and doing it without telling your employer exactly what you think of them can sometimes be difficult depending on the workplace. Sometimes, it’s bittersweet if you like the company and the people but simply don’t enjoy the work. Whatever your situation, being clear and professional about why you’ve chosen to leave is always important.